SCCT curriculum guidelines for general (level 1) cardiovascular CT training.

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography has developed general (level 1) cardiovascular CT (CCT) training guidelines for radiology resident and cardiology fellow education. As CCT use has expanded over the past decade, it is essential to incorporate such training in both diagnostic radiology residency programs and cardiology fellowship programs. This curriculum will ensure residents and fellows-in-training obtain a fundamental understanding of CCT to stay current in the evolving landscape of cardiovascular imaging and know how and when to use CCT.

Does transendocardial injection of mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial function locally or globally?: An analysis from the Percutaneous Stem Cell Injection Delivery Effects on Neomyogenesis (POSEIDON) randomized trial.

Rationale: Transendocardial stem cell injection (TESI) with mesenchymal stem cells improves remodeling in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, but the effect of the injection site remains unknown.

Objective: To address whether TESI exerts its effects at the site of injection only or also in remote areas, we hypothesized that segmental myocardial scar and segmental ejection fraction improve to a greater extent in injected than in noninjected segments.

Methods And Results: Biplane ventriculographic and endocardial tracings were recorded.

Utilization of radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in two health care systems: assessment with the 2009 ACCF/ASNC/AHA appropriateness use criteria.

Background: Although differences in the rate of utilization of invasive cardiac procedures between Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and other health care systems are present, noninvasive cardiac imaging use pattern has not been well studied. We evaluated the ability of the updated appropriateness use criteria (AUC) to determine utilization patterns of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and compare use between an academic practice and a VA.

Methods: One-hundred fifty stress/rest MPI studies in an academic practice and 150 at a VA hospital were retrospectively reviewed using the hierarchical approach published in the 2009 AUC.

Diagnostic approach and role of MRI in the assessment of acute myocarditis.

The diagnosis of acute myocarditis can be challenging, primarily because of the clinical diversity at presentation, the nonspecificity of traditional noninvasive tests, as well as the poor diagnostic yield and potential complications inherent with endomyocardial biopsy. Contrast-enhanced and nonenhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as an imaging modality of choice to diagnose and monitor the progression of myocarditis. MRI is nonionizing, non-nephrotoxic, and in comparison to coronary angiography, allows the clinician to rapidly eliminate irreversible ischemic injury (acute coronary syndrome) from the differential diagnosis.